Typewriting machine



Feb. 8, 1927. 1,616,555 J. A. B. SMITH I TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed April2. 1925 '2 Sheets-Sheet l ln ven for:

Patented Feb. 8, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,616,555- PATENT OFFICE.

JESSE A-. B. SMITH, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOB TO UNDIJBWOODTYPE- WBITEB COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

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Application filed April 2, 1925. Serial No. 20,061.

This invention relates to duplex or superposed platen-devices fortypewriting machines, and to means for selectively moving the plateninto or out of typing position.

One of the-features of thls invention is to facilitate the handling ofmanifold webs or sheets, especially where certain portions of the typedmatter are to be omitted from one or more of the carbon-copies thereof.

In Patent No. 1,350,681 to. Stickney et al. are shown two revolubleplatens, one surmounting the other; the pack of work-sheets being splitinto two sets, those in one set going over only one of said platens, andthose 7 in both setsgoing over the other of said platens; whereby mattertyped or manifolded upon the sheets in the first set does not appearupon the sheets in the other set. The structure disclosed in said patentnecessitates a reconstruction of the platen-frame and carriage of theUnderwood typewriting machine; and one of the objects of the presentinvention is to simplify the mechanism, particularly with a view tocompacting the same by reducing the amount of room that is occupied bythe platens; this being done with a view to mounting two platens in astandard Underwood typewriting machine, in place of the single platenusually employed therein. To this and other ends, one of the mainfeatures of the present improvements resides in the provisionof twoplatens, each consisting of a bar, which may be of metal with or withoutsuitable leather or other facing; these bar-platens being mounted oneabove the other and being shiftable to bring'either one to typingposition, and the other one out of typing position. Upon one of theplatens all of the work-sheets may -be manifolded, while upon the otherplaten only certain of said sheets are typed, for the purposes set forthin said patent. Said barplatens are mounted upon arms whereby they areloosely supported upon the platenaxle, which is usually provided in saldUnderwood machine, the arms not revolving with the axle; and the facesof said platens have a cylindrical curvature a reeing with that of theusual Underwood p aten, so that it becomes practicable to remove theordinary platen and substitute these duplex or superposed platens in thesame machine. Line-feeding of the work-sheet may be effected by one ormore pairs of rolls, which may occupy positions under the platens, to

and passed down over a rear table.

receive the work-sheets as they are thrust down at the rear over theusualpaper-shelf, and feed them forwardly and upwardly around one orboth of said platens. The feed-rolls may be driven by gearing,referably. comprising pinions upon the roll axles and an internal gearmounted upon the platen-axle, to be driven by the huespace lever usuallyemployed in said Underwood machine. 7

Preferably the lower platen is independently swlngable backwardly awayfrom typmg posltion, to permit the upper platen to swing down intotyping position. This makes for compactness of the mechanism, andparticularly affords room within the co eedconfines of the standardmachine for the feed-rolls below the platen. The work-sheet is insertedin the machine in a pack, and is fed between feed-rolls, and then ispassed over one of the platens and separated, so

that only the upper sheet will pass over the upper platen.

Certain features relate to the compactness of. the device, and to theeasy assembl thereof. The device may preferably be bui t as a unit, andmounted on the platen-frame of the machine after removing the regularplaten therefrom; The work-sheet is linefed'by the same means normallycontrolling the work-sheet in the machine. position of the platens isaccomplished by means of a special hand-lever which may form part of theunit.

The work-sheets, interleaved with carbons, are inserted at the rear ofthe machine Then the leading edges ofthe sheets are engaged by thefeed-rolls. The entire assembly of work-sheets may be passed overthe-lower platen, which normally may be at the printing line, and one ormore of the sheets are then separated from the rest, and are passed idlybehind the upper platen. The outer sheet or sheets overlie the upperplaten.

Normally, the lower platen receives the printing upon the assembledsheets, but when for any reason it is desired to type certain data uponthe outer sheet or sheets only, then, by means of a lever the twoplatens are moved relatively to each other or transposed,-the lowerone-into idle position, and the upper one into typing position.Preferably the lower platen is moved inwardly or backwardly to idleposition, while the upper The transplaten is lowered to the printingline. the sheets, however, not being shifted at this time. p

The tra nsposing means mav comprise two interlockin bail-pieces formingthe platendevices, an both platen-devices may be op- .mal positions.

eratively connected by means of a cam-slotand-pin arrangement, wherebythe cam-slots in one of the platen-devices will control the either bythe hand-wheels at the ends thereof. or by the regular line-spacemechanism of the machine, the driving feed-rolls will also be rotated tofeed the work-sheet to the platens.

Other featuresand advantages will hereinafte'r appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a crom-sectional view, in elevation, through the center ofthe platenframe of an Underwood typewriting machine, showing the twoplatens in their nor- Figure 2 1s a cross-sectional view, in elevation,showing the feed-roll releasing mechanism and the feed-roll drivingmechanism.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view, in ale-- vation, showing the upperplaten lowered to the printing line.

Figure 4 is a detail showing the upper platen and the operating handletherefor. 1 Figure 5 is a detail showing the lower platen.

Figure 6 is a front view. in elevation,

- showing the device as applied to an Underwood typewriting machine.

Figure 7 is a top or plan view of the device, as applied to an Underwoodtypewriting machine.

A workheet, which may, for example, comprise an invoice-sheet 10 and arecordsheet 11, interleaved by a sheet of carbonpaper 12, is inserted,leading edge first, over a rear table 13, and down to be engaged by theregular feed-rolls 14 and 15, which cooperate respectively with drivingfeed-rolls 16 and 17.. The assembled work-sheet is then passed over aplaten 18, and the ledger-sheet,

- together with the carbon-paper, is led behind a second platen 19,which lies slightly above the platen 18, as shown in Figure 1. Thestatement-sheet is passed-over the platen 19 and under the paper-fingers20 of the machine. Then the assembled work-sheet is fed to typingposition, whereupon the statementsheet is typed by means of type-bars21, and through the interleaving sheet of carbonpaper the typing iscopied upon the ledgersheet.

The driving feedrolls 16 and 17 are operatively connected to theline-spacing mechanism of the machine by means of the platenshaft 22,upon which there is mounted an internal gear 23 fastthereto by means ofa screw 57 threaded into a collar 56, forming an integral part of saidgear which meshes with pinions 24, fast to shafts 25, upon which therolls are mounted. The shafts 25 are journaled in side plates 26, andare laterally located by the pinion-collars 24 and setcollars 27. Theplates 26 are fast to the regular platen-frames 28 by means of screws29, which may fit into the tapped holes normally supporting the.platen-frame guard which is removed.

In order that the plates 26 may be more securely held, and at thesametime to facilitate the easy removal thereof, there are provided endpieces 30 fast to the plates, and

engaging the feed-roll shaft 31 to which the plates are secured by meansof screws 32.

When, for any reason it is desired to type upon the statement-sheetonly, the lower platen 18 is caused to recede to the rear.

while the upper p1aten19 is lowered to the printing point, as shown inFigure 3. To cause the transposition of the two platens, a lever 33,rockably mounted upon the shaft 22, is moved forwardly by means of ahandle 34, thus causing the lever to move the lower platen by means ofpins 35, engaging cam-grooves 36 cut into end plates 37, upon which theupper platen is rockably mounted. Due to the peculiar shape of thecam-grooves, when the lever is moved it will draw the lower platen 18 tothe rear. while simultaneously the upper platen 19 is being lowered tothe printing line. The lower platen is rockably mounted upon supportingstuds 38 fast to the plates 26, and is designed in the form of abail-piece having the end arms 39 fast to the platen and integral partthereof.

For the purpose of controlling the movement of the two platensrelatively to each other, there is provided a spring 40, fast to theplates 26 by means of screws 41. Said spring 40 engages with a pin 42fast to the lever. 33, and, due to the peculiar shape of the spring 40which forms a high'point 43 corresponding to the neutral positions ofthe two platens. tends to force and to hold the pin 42 on either side ofthe high point 43. To limit the travel of the arm 33 outwardly,

preferably forming an or away from the spring, there are provided twopins 44 fast to the plates 26, which pins determine the travel of thearm 33, as shown in Figures 1 and 3.

In order that this device'may be handled as a unit when off the machine,and in order the driving feed-rolls to facilitate the placing of thedevice in the machine after removing the regular platen therefrom, theend plates 26 are fastened to gether by means of a cross-plate 45, whichis secured to the plates" by fasteners 46. Said plate serves also asmeans to guide the work-sheet when the same is introduced in themachine, and is provided with a bent edge 47, to facilitate theback-feeding of the work-sheet. Another reinforcing element to hold thetwo end plates together, is provided in the form of a front table 48 atthe delivery side of the platen. Said front table extends from one endplate to the other, and is fast thereto by means of fasteners 49. One ofthe functions of this table is to serve as a backing for the worksheet,and is provided with a rounded edge 50 at the top thereof to-stif'ienthe table, and to afiord a better surface for the work-sheet.

The feed-rolls 14 and 15 are releasable in the usual manner by means ofa rockablymounted finger-piece 51. actuating upon a downwardly-extendinglink 52, which link is. in turn, operatively connected to crossshaft 53.When the finger-piece 51 is depressed by means of the linkage described,the shaft 53 is swung, and the cam-shaped portion 54 actuates upon thefingers 55, to

thus force the rolls 14 and 15 away from 16 and 17. r

The shaft 22 carries at the end fingerwheels 58 to line-feed thework-sheet independently of the line-space mechanism,

which is operatively connected to a ratchet 59. also fast to the shaft22. Said shaft is laterally located by means of a collar 60 fastenedthereto by a set-screw 61. I

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, andportions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1.- In a typewriting machine, the combi-- nation with a platen-frame, ofa plurality of 4 1 platens selectively movable to typing positionrelatively to one another and independently of said platen-frame.

2. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen-frame. of apair of platens movable relatively to each other and independently ofthe platen-frame, and means common to both platens for controlling theirrelative positions.

3. In a typewriting machine, in combination, 'a pair of platens arrangedone above the other and movable relatively to each other, and means forcausing one of the platens to recede from the printing posi-' tion asthe other platen is moved in front of the receding platen, so as tooccupy said printing position.

4. In a typewritmg macli1ne-,"1n combination, a pair of platens arrangedone above i the other and movable relatively to each other, and meansfor causing the lower platen to move rearwardly from printing position,to provide room for the. upper platen as it descends to said printingposition.

5. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a double-platenarrangement, and means for transposing the positions thereof, toalternatively move either of the platens to the printing line, saidmeans comprising a hand-operable lever forming an integral part of oneof the platens and pivotally mounted upon a supporting shaft, and saidlever having cam-slots engaging with pins on the second platen, thelatter being fulcrumed at a point adjacent and above the printing point,whereby when one of the platens is brought to the printing point by theswing of the lever, the other platen will be moved away from theprinting point, to the rear of the machine.

6. In a typewriting machine, in combina-- tion, a pair of platensmovable relatively to each other, one of said platens being normally atthe printing position and the other platenthereabove, and means formoving the upper platen down to said printing position and for causingthe lower platen to move to the rear of the descending platen.

7. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen-frame, of apair ofplatens movable independently of said platen-frame, one of saidplatens being movable up or down adjacent the printing line and theother p1aten\ being movable in a substantially horizontal plane to andaway from said printingline, the firstnamed platen being effective toshift the horizontally-1novable platen away from printing position assaid first-named platen moves from an inactive position to said printingposition.

8. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a pair of platens movablerelatively to each other. one of said platensbeing movable up or down todispose said platen at ,the printing line or removed therefrom, the

second platen being laterally movable to and away from said printingline, and means for controlling said first-named platen, saidcontrolling means co-operating with the second platen to determine itsposition relative to the first-named platen.

9. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a pair of platens movablerelatively to each other, whereby either platen may be selectivelypresented at the typing zone, one of said platens being movable in asubstantially horizontal plane to and away from the typing zone, theother platen being movable in an are up or down relatively to saidtyping zone, and being normally above the horizontally-movable platen,and means cooperating with both of said platens whereby saidhorizontally-movable laterally movable back an relative positions ofsaidplaten-bars, so as to selectively present either one of them at saidprinting line.

11. In a typewriting machine, a palr of platen-bars movable relativelyto each other, one of said bars being normally at the printing positionand movable rearwardly therefrom, the other platen-bar being movabledownwardly from an inactiv osition to said printing position and,effectwe by such movement to cause the first-named platen to moverearwardly to an inactive position at the rear of saiddownwardly-movable platen-bar.

12. The combination with a typewriting machine including a revolublymounted platen-frame, feed-rolls therefor, a -platen-' frame and meansfor conducting a worksheet at the rear of the machine, of a skeletonplaten substituting the regular platen, said skeleton laten com risingfeed-rolls co-operating with the fee -rolls in the machine for feedingthe work-sheet, twoplaten-strips movable relatively to each other, andmeans for simultaneously transposing the platen-strips relatively to theprinting line. i

13. The combination with a typewriting machine including a revolublymounted platen-frame, feed-rolls therefor, a platenframe and means forconducting a Worksheet at the rear of the machine, of a skeleton platensubstituting the regular platen, said skeleton laten com risingfeed-rolls co-operating w th the fee -rolls in the machine for feedingthe work-sheet, two platenstrips movable relatively to each other, andmeans for simultaneously transposing the' platen-strips relatively tothe printing line, said last-mentioned means including amanually-operable handle having cam-slots engaging with pins on one ofthe platen-strips, whereupon when one of the platen-strips is moved tothe printing line, the other platenstrip will be moved away therefrom.

14. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a pair of platens movablerelatively to each other to selectively present either of said platensat-the printing position, and means for causing one of said platens tomove rearwardly from said printing position out of the path of the otherplaten as itdescends from a normally inactive position to said printingposition. I

15. In a typewriting. machlne, 1n combinato the printing line and foralso causin tion, a pair of platen-bars movable relatively to each otherone of said bars being normally at theprmting position and movable to aposition at the rear thereof, the other platen-bar being normally abovethe firstnamed platen-bar and movable downwardly to said printingposition, and a handle, associated with the u er platen-bar, for movingit from one posltlon to the other position, said handle including apin-and-slot connection to the first-named platen-bar effective to causethe latter to recede'from the printin position as the upper platenqbaris move down to said printing position.

16. In a typewritingbmachine, in combine,

tion, a pair of platen ars movable relatively to each other, feed-rollsfor feeding a ack of work-sheets to the printing zone, a of the sheetsof said pack being passed over one of said platen-bars, the secondplaten-bar being effective to split said pack into two sections, thefirst section passlng to the rear of the second-named platen-bar, andthe other section over the front thereof, and means for moving saidsecond-named platen-bar dowln t e first-named p ten-bar to recede thererom, whereby said second-named platen-bar presents only the splitportion of said pack at the printing zone, said pack being heldstationary by the feed-rolls during such transposition.

-17. In a typewriting machine, in combina tion, a pair of platensmovable relatively to each other to selectively bring either one of.them to the'printing zone or away therefrom,

one of said platens being normally at said printing zone and the secondplaten normally thereabove, feed-rolls for feeding a ack of work-sheetsto said printing zone, al of the sheets of said pack passing over thefront of the first-named platen, the upper platenbeing effective tosplit the pack into two sections, and a lever upon which the upper. platen is mounted, said lever being effective to move said upper platen froman mactive position to a position at the printing zone, andincludingmeans co-operating with the firstnalned platen for moving the same awayfrom said printing zone as said upper platen descends, all of the sheetsof said pack being held by the feed-rolls during such platenshiftingoperation, said upper platen being effective to bring the splltsection-of said pack to said printing zone.

18. In a typewriting machine, the combination of two platen-strips,comprising a lower platen placed at theprinting line and an upper platenabove the printing line, and means for moving the lower platen away fromthe printing line simultaneously with the lowering of the upper platento the, printing line, said means including. a hand-lever forming anintegral part of end-supporting plates, and of the upper platen, and theendsupporting plates having cam-slots co-operating with a member fast tothe lower platen at the ends thereof, the function of the camslots beingto withdraw the lower platen away from the printing line and to the rearof the machine when the upper platen is lowered by the action of thehand-lever.

19. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a air of platens movablerelatively to each ot er, one of said platens being normaling away fromthe printing zone, feeding devices for feeding a plurality of sheets tosaid printing zone and means for moving the normally efiective platenout of the way as the inactive platen is moved into said printing zone,the work-sheets being held stationary by the feed-rolls during suchshiftingof the platens.

ly at the printing zone, the other platen be-- 20. In a typewritingmachine including a" platens being suspended from the platenframe so asto be displaceable in a substantially horizontal plane toward or awayfrom the types, the other platen being mounted upon a lever carried bythe platen-frame and being movable thereby, up or down with relation tosaid types, connections between said for moving the latter rearwardlyaway from typing position and for moving the secondnamed platen intosaidtyping position, and means for limiting the throw of said lever 'tothereby control the relative positions of said platens.

JESSE A. B. SMITH.

lever and. the horizontally-movable platen

